by Madeleine Hubbard
Taral Patel, a Democratic candidate from Fort Bend, Texas, a county commissioner and a Biden administration appointee, is accused of using counterfeit online accounts to post racist messages about himself and then publicly accusing Republicans of being responsible for it.
Patel (pictured above) was arrested last week for a third-degree felony: Internet impersonation and an offense of providing a false identity– according to court records. He posted a total of $22,500 on two bonds – one for each of the charges – and he he gave his passport back.
Patel created Post on Facebook in September 2023 regarding insults he allegedly made to himself, along with a photo of the racist comments.
“[W]when supporters of my Republican opponents decide to hurl #racist, #antiimmigration, #Hinduphobia or otherwise disgusting insults at my family, faith community, colleagues and me – that crosses the line,” he wrote. He also accused former President Donald Trump and “today’s extremist Republican Party” of inciting such rhetoric.
Incumbent Republican Commissioner Andy Meyers, Patel’s opponent, was responsible for opening an investigation into the comments, according to documents from the Fort Bend County District Clerk’s Office. Houston Chronicle.
Patel is accused of using other people’s photos to create Facebook profiles and then posting racist and hateful messages and comments on those profiles. He would then collect comments and employ them to apply for donations throughout the county.
Many hateful comments supported incumbent Meyers. For example, a screenshot of one of the comments posted by Patel said, “I am with Meyers ALL THE TIME because he serves Jesus unlike Patel and his followers who worship the Monkey and the Elephant.”
Patel’s website states that President Joe Biden has appointed him as a White House liaison and a member of the Committee on Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Affairs in America.
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Photo “Taral Patel” by Taral Patel for Commissioner – Fort Bend County District 3. Cover photo “Fort Bend County Courthouse” by Larry D. Moore CC BY 4.0.
